MicroStation - AutoCAD Units

Hello,

I am using MicroStation v8i SS4.

I have an AutoCAD drawing with units set to "Unitless".  The geographic coordinate is set to SC NAD83 Int'l feet (SC83IF) and units are set to "unitless".  I am not having luck getting a dgn file to reference into the AutoCAD file correctly.  The dgn file is also set to SC83IF, units are set to feet.  I found though, if I save-as the dgn file to a dwg file, they reference together correctly, but I have to ensure the new dwg file system variable "INSUNITS" is set to 0 (unitless).  However, while inside the dgn file, in the MicroStation dgn file, the dwg file appears shifted about 4 feet.  I am certain this shift between files has something to do with units interpretation between AutoCAD and MicroStation files, but I am not sure what to set the dwg file to, and the dgn file, so they will both mesh together at the same exact location.  Are there any ideas on this subject, I am all ears for any suggestions / recommendations.

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  • if I save-as the dgn file to a dwg file,

    Have you tried saving the DWG file as a DGN file?  A DGN file always has units, so check what the conversion created.  Can the converted file be referenced accurately?  Perhaps the DGN units will offer a clue about the problem with the DWG original.

     
    Regards, Jon Summers
    LA Solutions

  • Jon,

    Thanks for the feedback.  I tried the "mapimport" command to import the dgn file into the dwg file, which worked great.  I have not tried to open the dwg file in MicroStation.  I guess that would probably solve the problem in the other direction, and save-as a dgn file perhaps.  I was hoping there may be a white paper that explained a definitive approach to work between cad applications.  I do not always have this issue, so I find it a surprise.  There must be settings on both sides that need to be adjusted...

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  • Jon,

    Thanks for the feedback.  I tried the "mapimport" command to import the dgn file into the dwg file, which worked great.  I have not tried to open the dwg file in MicroStation.  I guess that would probably solve the problem in the other direction, and save-as a dgn file perhaps.  I was hoping there may be a white paper that explained a definitive approach to work between cad applications.  I do not always have this issue, so I find it a surprise.  There must be settings on both sides that need to be adjusted...

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